FACT CHECK: WikiLeaks has not released list of Indians having black money in Swiss banks
Social media users are claiming that WikiLeaks has published the first list of names of Indians who have stashed black money in Swiss banks.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 31 Dec 2021 4:21 AM GMT
HYDERABAD: Social media users are claiming that WikiLeaks has published the first list of names of Indians who have stashed black money in Swiss banks.
The list includes politicians like Rahul Gandhi, Ahmed Patel, Jayalalithaa, Rajiv Gandhi, and Ashok Gehlot.
The message reads, "WikiLeaks releases the first list of Indians with black money in Swiss Banks"
FACT CHECK:
A search on the wikileaks.org website for information related to the viral list of Indians did not yield any information. No such data was found. https://wikileaks.org/
In 2011, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said there was more Indian money in Swiss banks than any other nationality, resulting in demands for disclosure of account holders' names. Assange said he was being offered a deal for handing over the details of Swiss banks and their account holders list (Source: Economic Times)
WikiLeaks has never published a list of Indians who have stashed black money in Swiss banks. In 2011, WikiLeaks refuted a similar list being shared and called it fake.
Under the Automatic Exchange of Information Pact (EOI), the Government of India receives details on Swiss bank account details. The EOI was signed between India and Switzerland in November 2016 and India will receive the information automatically every year.
India received the first set of Swiss bank account details of its citizens in September 2019. The second list was sent in September 2020 and the third in October 2021. The details include the number of real estate properties owned by Indians in Switzerland. This year, data relating to real estate was included in the set of details. The information is likely to shed light on properties owned by Indians in Switzerland and help the government fight against black money allegedly stashed abroad.
https://www.wionews.com/india-
However, the government has not shared the list publicly.
Thus, it is clear that the viral message that WikiLeaks has published the first list of names of Indians who have stashed black money in Swiss banks is false.
